Alan Davie (1920-2014)

Painter, born in Grangemouth, Stirlingshire. His father was also an artist and Davie junior was encouraged to enrol at Edinburgh College of Art, 1937-40, where he was taught by John Maxwell. Following army service with the Royal Artillery in World War II, Davie worked variously as a jazz musician, textile designer, potter and as a jewellery designer. In 1946, he held his first solo exhibition at Grant's Bookshop, Edinburgh and soon after travelled around Europe meeting Peggy Guggenheim which was to broaden his artistic outlook. His work over the years was much influenced by Abstract Expressionism, Oriental mysticism and Indian mythology. His first London show took place at Gimpel Fils, London in 1950 and his first New York exhibition at the Catherine Viviano Gallery, New York in 1956. During the 1960's and later many of Davie's drawings appeared in print form executed by the Curwen Press and also were seen in the eclectic magazine Motif